A big thank you to my family who came from all corners of the world to see me graduate from University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. I love you all! Also, I’d like to thank the professors and the staff at the Merrill College and UMD who made my time at Maryland very fulfilling and patiently answered my 101 questions. Thank you!

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — The Washington Capitals hosted the 13th Annual Salute to the Military Night on Thursday and auctioned off camouflage jerseys to help families of fallen soldiers.

The team wore the camouflage jerseys during their warm-ups and auctioned them off during the game to help families of fallen soldiers.

The USA Warriors, a hockey team composed of wounded veterans participated throughout the evening and demonstrated their skills on ice during one of the breaks. Captain of the Warriors, Sgt. Michael Davis, took part in the ceremonial puck drop.

Ray Charles grew up in northern Florida. Despite losing his sight when he was seven, he became one of the world’s greatest pianists. He was the first artist to receive 75 percent of his record sales and the rights to his master recordings. He helped further the cause of civil rights by refusing to perform in segregated venues. He contributed over $20 million to charities for the deaf and blind as well as African-American colleges.

Patrice Lumumba was born in 1925 in the Belgian Congo in the village of Onalua, which is in Kasai Province. He was a member of the Batetela ethnic group. After attending a Protestant school, he started writing essays for Congolese journals. He then began to work in a post office, while continuing to write for the press. In 1955 he became a leader of a Congolese labor union. In 1958 he launched the Congolese National Movement MNC and attended the first All-African peoples conference, where he met nationalists from all over Africa. In 1960, he became the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.